Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the possibility of trusts and combines in building materials putting up prices on account of the Government's housing subsidy, he will cake powers to withhold payment of the grant unless he is satisfied that no such variations in price have taken place?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt would not be practicable to withhold the grant from a local authority in respect of houses to which the authority was already committed. But I should certainly suspend sanction of new grants if any such enhancement of prices as occurred in 1920 were to take place again.
Mr. THOMSONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the policies of the Light Castings Association, the Cement Makers' Federation, the 550W Greystone Limeburners' Association, Limited, and the North Wales Slate Quarries Association, all operate to raise the price of their products against the consumer; and what practical steps he proposes to take to bring the operations of such combinations under the direct surveillance of some Department of State, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Trusts, 1921, and so protect from exploitation the subsidies for house building which he proposes to make?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe effects of such combinations as those to which the hon. Member refers will be matters for inquiry by the Committee which I am proposing to appoint. If it should be found to be necessary, the Government will consider the preparation of legislation on the subject.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the price of building materials hardened immediately after his announcement concerning the proposed subsidy to be adminstered through local authorities; and whether be is prepared to make any proposals to deal with combines taking undue advantage of assistance afforded by the Government towards facilitating the resumption of building operations?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware that prices have hardened, as my hon. Friend suggests. As regards the last part of his question, I would refer him to the reply I gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Turner).
§ Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the introduction of immediate legislation making it a criminal offence, punishable by six months' hard labour, for any two or more persons to agree together to form any ring or combine with the object of restricting, prejudicing, or in any way interfering with the fair and legitimate public or private, sale of any property, merchandise, article, or thing connected with the building trade?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on Monday last in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Turner).
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§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Minister of Health the percentage increase since 1914 in the cost of best stock bricks, cement, sanitary fittings, and laths, respectively?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe general percentage increases since 1914 of the materials mentioned are as follow:
Best stock bricks 125 per cent. Cement 57 per cent Sanitary fittings (sinks) 100 Per cent. Laths 230 Per cent
§ Sir.J. LEIGHasked the Minister of Health whether there is any record in his Department of suspected evidence that rings of manufacturers of building materials were partly responsible for the loss of £882,000 involved in liquidating the Department of Building Materials Supply; and, if so, whether his officials have any considered plan to prevent the continuance of such profiteering during the progress of house building with State aid in the future?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe loss involved in liquidating the Department of Building Materials Supply is attributable mainly to payment of compensation for cancellation of non-completed contracts and to forced realisation of stocks of certain materials that had been purchased under completed or partly completed contracts in anticipation of the requirements of the Government housing programme and the Department have no evidence to show that rings of manufacturers were responsible for any part of this loss. When the housing schemes were curtailed in the spring of 1921 a fall in prices occurred and the stocks purchased by the Department of Building Materials Supply could only be realised at a loss. As regards the second part of the question, a Committee is now being set up to keep in close touch with the prices of materials, and they will keep the Department fully informed of the position.